2 weeks Ago By Claremore Daily Progress, Okla.
In a do-or-die moment with a playoff berth on the line, it was Lizzie Garza who delivered the first strike.Garza's goal off a deflection with 25:12 remaining in the first half set the tone for a gritty, high-stakes 2-1 victory over Rogers County rival Sequoyah in a must-win District 3A-4 clash Thursday night at home. The win secured the final playoff spot for the Lady Cardinals (6-8, 5-3 district), who finish fourth in the district standings.
The Lady Eagles (8-7, 4-4), despite a strong season, were eliminated with the loss and ends its year in fifth.The opening goal came after Averie Deegan’s shot was blocked by a Sequoyah defender, creating chaos inside the box. Claire Virska followed with a quick attempt that was deflected by Lady Eagles goalkeeper Cylie Bronson, and Beats pounced on the loose ball to give Verdigris a 1-0 lead.
Just over 12 minutes later, the Lady Cardinals struck again.Bella Floyd threaded a perfect assist to Deegan, who calmly tapped the ball past an onrushing Bronson for a 2-0 lead with 13:10 remaining in the first half.Sequoyah’s only breakthrough came with 18:02 remaining in the second half when Lexi Teehee launched a towering 52-yard free kick.
The ball took a high bounce roughly 8 yards from the goal and sailed over the keeper’s head to make it 2-1.Verdigris nearly found its insurance goal on several occasions in the final 16 minutes.Marin Fink’s 25-yard free kick clanged off the crossbar with 15:47 remaining, and Floyd was twice denied — first by Bronson’s save at 15:04 and then by the crossbar again less than a minute later.
Deegan also missed a point-blank shot with just over four minutes to play.Still, the Lady Cardinals’ early goals and aggressive offense — including 14 total shots to the Lady Eagles' five — proved enough to extend their season and punch their ticket to the playoffs..
